“Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn’t know you had, and dealing with fears you didn’t know existed.” -Linda Wooten I was afraid. When I brought my daughter home from the birth center, I was terrified. Not overtly. Not openly. Not wide-eyed and pale skinned. But beneath all the joy, excitement, fatigue and…
In the United States it’s estimated by the CDC that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men will experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. According to Rape Abuse and Incest National Network, 60% of sexual assaults go unreported. -PolitiFact When I was 15 years old I was sexually assaulted. I…
The fourth trimester. The first 12 weeks with baby. I always assumed pregnancy and labor were the hardest parts of becoming a mother. Turns out, no. The breastfeeding, the hormones, the sleep deprivation, the anxiety; the sheer physicality of those first 3 months with a newborn is more intense than 9 months of pregnancy. I…
When people ask me how long I was in labor, I like to tell them 4 weeks. - me It was 8 o'clock on June 14th, 2016. Sprawled on the couch was a very pregnant, very tired, very frustrated woman. She was 39 weeks pregnant. A tearful phone call to her husband earlier in the…
For the next several blogs I'll be writing about motherhood. In truth I have been reluctant to write my "Mom" stories. There is a part of me that feels like mommy blogs are low-hanging fruit and wouldn't be challenging...and are cliche. In other words, I resist the idea of being 'predictably mommy' on my blog. …
I spent a lot of mental energy yesterday thinking about what is happening right now on our Mexican border. I couldn't wrap my mind around it. I couldn't figure out how to process it or articulate my feelings about it. Anxiety, helplessness, outrage, sadness all culminating in a paltry donation to an immigrant rights organization…
I was planning to finish up and post a political commentary blog about Bernie Sanders today. However, the news of Anthony Bourdain's death prompts me to write about depression. Other than a few transitional times in my life I have never suffered from depression. But I believe that my father did, especially toward the end…
Dear Humanity, I see the goodness in you when you ask for compassion even when your instinct is to punish. Even when it is clear that the person doesn't deserve or even desire your compassion. It is hard to stand up for people that you believe are wrong, but I've seen you do it and…
Yesterday my dear and beloved friend Raechel got married. I couldn't attend because I am currently growing a human and that little human is almost ready to enter the world. So with many tears and regret, I was not able to travel to celebrate with her. However, I was honored to be able to write…
Story writer. Book blogger. Tea lover.
frightfully wondrous things happen here.
Lifes experiences in lesser words
Poetry & Prose...from Prompts
Learn Something New Daily, Teach What You Love
Raku pottery, vases, and gifts
Putting ideas into words.
Author, Artist, Anthropologist
Pen to paper
Charly Slipp 